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Feb. 3, 1931. USNER l,790 ,734

DIMMER FOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS Filed Aug. 22, 1923 Patented Feb. 3, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE xnwm L. time, or rmmnrnn, rmmvama n 103vmncna muons Application fled August 28, 1983. Serial I'o. 658,788.

My invention provides improved means for positively controlling thecurrent furnished the head lights of vehicles, so as to either dim suchheadlights or maintain their full brilliancy by a simple manual ration.Such control is most conveniently e ected by means of the foot or knee,and hence it is important that the movement required be a simplepressure for changing the lights from 5 bright to dim and vice versa,and that the lights continue in either the dim or in the v brightcondition without attention from the operator until the mechanism isagain actuated. By the mechanism embod ng m improvements the control ofthe liglz ts is e fected by pressure of a sin 1e member always in thesame direction, so t at the changes in 1 the light conditions may bemade by the operator without any uncertainty as to what part should beoperated or how it should be operated.

In the preferredembodiment of my invention, there are providedconductors forming a path for current flowing to the lamps to light themto fullbrilliancy, and a secondary path containing resistance permittingflow of a reduced amount of current to provide dim lights when themain'path is interrupted b i the shifting of a switch blade. The sw1blade is moved to make and break posi tions alternately by successivemovements in one direction of a manually operable mem- .ber to close oropen the main current path.

' In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a 3;; diagrammatic view of alighting layout embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of a preferred embodiment of the novel portion of the apparatus;and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the bre A has one. of its terminalsconnected throng a dash board control switch B to the conductor 30 forsupplying current to the headlights C through the mechanism hereinafterdescribed and the conductor 1. The circuit between the battery andheadlights may be comleted by grounding them upon the vehicle rame or bymeans of a suitable conductor. A switch box 8, fixed to apanellO,contains a v spring supported'bus bar ,or electrode 25 to whichvtheconductor 30 is connected b a terminal screw 24. A contact bar or eectrode 23, insulated from the bar 25, has connected therewith, by aterminal screw 21, a conductor 9 forming an extension of theconductor 1. A contact bar or electrode 19 is supported on the panel 22and extends around one end of the electrode 23, from which it isinsulated. The bar 19 has connected therewith, by a terminal screw 20, aconductor 7 connected with the terminal 6 of a resistance coil 5disposed in a box 4 depending from the panel 10, the opposite end of theresistance coil being connected, through the terminal 3 and conductor 2,with the conductor 1.

A shaft 29, fixed to the panel 22, has sleeved a switch blade 27connected through the spring 31 with a ratchet wheel 26 and constantlycontacting with the corrugated electrode 25 and contacting alternatelywith the electrodes 19 and 23. The switch blade is rotated through thespring, step by step, by means of the ratchet wheel 26 journalled on theshaft, and a pawl 28 pivoted on the stem 14 the awl bein supported by aleaf spring 18 and its upward movement being limited by a stop 32.

the stem 14 and elevates the pawl 28. A dust guard and support 11 isscrewed-on the thimle 17 and engages the surface of the panel. The stem14 has fixed thereto a collar 15 and abutton 13 for actuating it.

With the parts in the position shown, when the dash switch is closed,current flows from the battery throughthe dash switch, conductor 30,electrode 25, switch blade 27 ,electrode 7 19, conductor 7, resistancecoil 5, conductors 2 and 1 to the lam supplying a reduced amount ofcurrent or providing dim light. Current will continue flowing throughthis path until the vehicle operator presses on the button 13 to depressthe stem '14 and cause the pawl 28 to move the blade 27 oneeighth of arevolution, whereby the blade is disengaged from the electrode 19 andcontacts with the electrode 23. Current then flows from the battery,dash switch, conduc-- tor 30, electrode 25, switch blade 27, electrode23, and conductors 9 and 1 to the headlights, lighting them to fullbrilliancy. This condition is maintained until the button 13 is againdepressed to move the switch blade 27 through a partial revolution whichmoves the blade segment previously engaging the' electrode 25 intoengagement with the electrode 19 and moves the blade segment prev ouslyengaging the electrode 23 into contact with the electrode 25 to againdim the lights.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A headlight control mechanism comprising the combination of anelectrode adapted for connection with a source of electricity, a contactmember adapted for connection with the headlight, a second contactmember adapted for connection with .said

headlight, one of said contact members pro viding contact surfaces onopposite sides of the other contact member, and a switch blade connectedwith said electrode and movable into engagement with said contactmembers alternately.

2. A headlight control mechanism comprising an electrode adapted forconnection with a source of electricity, a plurality of contacts adaptedfor connection with a headlight, switching mechanism comprising amanually reciprocable plunger and a 'journalled member provided with ablade having its opposite ends movable into or out of engagement withsaid electrode and with said contacts in alternation upon manual move-'ment of said plunger in one direction only.

3. Aheadlight control mechanism comprismg an electrode adapted forconnection with a source of electricity, a contact, switchnig mechanismcomprising a manually reciprocable member, a spring, and a bladerotatable through said spring bymovement of said member in one directiononly, successive manual operation of said member alternately engagingsaid blade with and disengaging it from said contact, and a secondcontact insulated from the contact first prising a rotatable switchblade, an electrode curved about the axis of rotation of said switchblade and adapted to be engaged by the opposite ends thereof, a curvedcontact on the opposite side of the axis of said switch from saidelectrode, and a curved contact lying between the axis of said switchand said contact first named.

6; A headlight control mechanism comprising a rotatable switch blade, anelectrode lying on one side of the axis of rotation of said switch bladeand engaged by contact surfaces at the opposite ends of said switchblade, and a plurality of contacts on the opposite side of said axisfrom said electrode and engaged by the surfaces of said switch bladewhich engage said electrode. I Intestimony whereof I have hereunto setmy name this 30th day of July, 1923.

EDWARD L. USNER.

named and engaged by said blade when dis- I

